Ogun Partners Private Firm to Boost Olumo Rock’s Global Appeal and Revenue
The Ogun State Government has entered a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with Whatadeal Travels and Tours for the professional management and development of the historic Olumo Rock tourist centre in Abeokuta.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday at the Ikija site in Abeokuta North Local Government Area.
Addressing journalists after the signing, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Sesan Fagbayi, stated that the partnership aims to ensure proper maintenance of the site to international standards and significantly boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Fagbayi highlighted the site’s growing popularity, noting that a recent renovation by Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration has led to a surge in visitors. He revealed that in November alone, the centre welcomed over 12,000 tourists, with revenue skyrocketing from about ₦20 million to over ₦100 million.
“The initiative under the state’s PPP programme is to achieve proper maintenance to meet international standard and also to increase the state’s internally generated revenue from the site,” the Commissioner said.
On security, Fagbayi assured that a “formidable security mechanism” has been put in place to safeguard visitors, especially in anticipation of a high volume of tourists during the upcoming yuletide season.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Whatadeal Travels and Tours, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, described Olumo Rock as one of Nigeria’s most iconic tourist sites. He said the agreement is geared towards packaging the facility to attract more local and international visitors.
Bank-Olemoh commended Governor Abiodun for transforming the “former obsolete site into an international standard” and promised that his firm would work to make the historical rock the most visited tourist destination in the country
